Any vintage boat guys out there? Let's see um...

First is my tiny 12 foot 52 Feathercraft deluxe runabout on a group run in Tennessee. Second is new project 16 foot family sized 59 Feathercraft Deluxe Clipper

Sent from my SM-A102U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I’m embarrassed to admit that for as long as I’ve been on the H.A.M.B., I never once visited “The Antiquated” until today. I know, shame, shame.

But I’m here now and It’s great to see so many different areas of interest that I too share.

A few years ago I was on I-95 and was passed by a flatbed truck that carried the most beautiful mahogany boat I had ever seen. I followed that truck looking at the boat from every different angle. I just couldn’t get enough.

To my delight, he signaled that he was going into the rest area. I pulled in next to him and waited until he came back out before I bombarded him with questions about it.

Turns out, he just finished restoring it for a client and was delivering it. I found out that he also sold “project” boats. I got his info and went to see him that weekend.

Of all of the project boats he had, I picked a 1941 17’ Chris Craft Barrelback. And couldn’t wait until he delivered it to start the restoration.

It took five years of learning a new skill set, like steam bending, and a number of things specific to boat building to complete the restoration.

When it was finished, I got a great compliment from the fellow I bought it from. We had become friends by this time. He looked over every inch of it and said, “this is how my customers want their boats done but most can’t afford this kind of work!”.

I entered it in the Antique and Classic boat show and took second place in my class against boats that had been professionally restored. The reason I didn’t get first place was because I trimmed the top edge of the pine battery box with mahogany which was a deviation from “as delivered”. I just wanted to “customize” it.

Be well
Jeff

 

Another non wood boat, probably also posted elsewhere on here.
54' Feathercraft DR and the Merc I just got done going through again.

 

Great to see all the early boats, I do get to see many while on the water, in Chesapeake Bay, couple of
shots of my Trojan F-32.

 

Had to post a full sizer of that beauty!
Hope it goes as well as it looks.

 

Thanks! I has since sprouted a windshield. I have not had her WOT since the engine rebuild. It should be good for 25-30 mph.

 

@Crusty Chevy - I’ve seen a few guys mention Feathercraft. My wife’s family had a 1956? Feathercraft. It’s actually quite ‘famous’ in their family. It was still around when we married 25 years ago. It had a pass-through from the front seats to the back. The aluminum was cracked down in the footwell area and my father-in-law JB welded the shit out of it. Eventually it was sold. I’m in the process of resurrecting a 1966 Correct Craft. I might start it this weekend for the first time in 13 years.

 

This Chris-Craft belongs to my friend in northern Idaho. He tows it with a 1960 Coupe DeVille.

 

Feathercraft had pass through versions of several models. Copies of the factory catalogs can be seen on www.feathercraft.net

Sent from my SM-A102U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I have a couple, first is a Fiberglass '59 Buehler Turbocraft, one of the first Jet boats built in the U.S., it was powered by a Y-block, now is has a SBC in it. Runs about 35 knots and can go in as little as 6 inches of water! The second pic is of our 32' 1970 Grand Banks, built in Singapore, all teak and maghog, single diesel power, not fast, just looks good getting there

 

Very pretty! I see lot's of hours invested. Well done!

 

I'd dig some more pics of that turbocraft man! Engine n pump pics! Cool boat.

 

Well 210superair, since you asked here's a couple more pics of the Buehler Turbocraft...

 

Man that's cool. Love the cable steering to the nozzle, never seen that! Awesome!

 

1961 Grady White with a 40hp Homelite 4 stroke (based on the Crosley engine).

 

Only one thing better than the first hot rod ride (up for debate) and that's the first woody ride. While I love my cars, boats were always my first love, and I bought my first boat before a car even. Anyway, beautiful night for a cruise with the family here. Almost 80 degrees and sun.

 

For all you boat guys, my Chris is suffering from power loss. I ain't had a chance to dig into it being busy with other things at the moment. She runs beautiful, just doesn't want to get up on plane well. I'll probably start with a compression test first, but any ideas of culprits are welcome.

 

What RPM are you turning to get up on plane? Does it bog down a little on top end? Maybe water in the float bowl. Got enough gas in the top of the float bowl that it will run smooth until you start trying to push it.

 

Rpm is pegged. Bog on top? It won't GET on top, lol. I don't think it's a fuel issue, but maybe. I haven't had time to dig into it yet, been getting all my normal boat stuff in. I have so much boat stuff I'm like a one man marina!

Here's my six year olds boat....

 

A few more. A few of my vintage outboard collection. Need to thin the herd of these things, got like 3 spots in my barn piled with outboards.

Learning how to ski behind my favorite boat, my brother!

And knee boarding behind dad's cc cavelier. A 1958 I think?

 

Pretty!

 

I did a bit of APBA stock outboard racing for approx. 10 years in the mid- to late 1960s, Mostly in class A utility ( a Sidcraft ) powered by a KG4-H Mercury. Subsequently, built another boat , my own design, I called The Super Splinter __. I also competed in my one and only APBA Nat's Hinton West Virginia 1969

 

that is one coool mail box sir. well done

 

Those pics of your FeatherCraft are excellent Here's a jpg of Miss P-Piggy ; powerhead is a 44 cu inch 4 cyl Merc mated to a KG-9 lower unit. I found that setup plus an Oakland-Johnson propeller to (eventually) meet my goal of 50 mph!

 

another view... getting 'air'

 

Man I watched that whole vid, thanks! Awesome!